80 



POPULAR SCTETTCE NEWS. 



[May, 18S9. 



not obtain a satisfactorj' view of the naso-pharynx 

 in small children. Experience in the post-mortein 

 room teaches, that the local diphtheritic manifesta- 

 tions are most extensive on the back of the soft- 

 palate, in the region to which neither food nor light 

 has access. 



The disproportion between the severity of the 

 general symptoms, and the slightness of the local 

 lesions as seen during life, is remarkable, but at the 

 necropsy the local lesions are almost always found 

 to be much more .serious and extensive than had 

 been noted during liie. Hence the importance of 

 more thorough exploration of the naso-pharyngeal 

 region, and local medication. 



Dr. Lovey, {Deutsch Med. Wocheiischr.) highly 

 recommends the treatment of diphtheria by the 

 insufflation of very finely powderer sugar, upon the 

 tonsils, pharynx, posterior nares, the entrance to 

 the larynx, and, after tracheotomy, through the 

 canula. The danger of general infection is abated, 

 the odor of decomposition lessened, and in many 

 cases in which the larynx was involved, the insuffla- 

 tion of sugar loosened the cough, and the threaten- 

 ing symptoms gradually ceased. The favorable 

 action of sugar on unhealthy granulations has long 

 been recognized. General treatment is of course, 

 employed also. Lovey prefers apomorphia, and 

 later, an easily digested iron preparation. 



this purpose is a well polished (not blackened) glass 

 rod, to one end of which a small incandescent glow 

 lamp, like those used for electric breast-pins, is 

 attached. 



The light of the lamp is reflected equally through 

 the Avhole glass rod to its other end, which is placed 

 so that the interior of the larynx or nose, becomes 

 illuminated, if required. If this luminous glass rod 

 is applied to the sclerotic, the interior of the eye- 

 ball can be examined in the same way as by using 

 an ophthalmoscope, the structure of the posterior 

 parts of the vitreous body being very well seen and 

 studied. As the glass rod remains cold, it can be 

 employed in operative surgery to light the natural 

 and artificial cavities. 



The treatment of recent pleuritic efi"usion by 

 saline cathartics, instead of tapping, is advocated 

 by Dr. P. Blaikie Smith, of the Aberdeen Royal 

 Infirmary, (Jiritish Med. Jour.) 



He uses the magnesium sulphate dissolved in as 

 small a quantity of hot water as possible. The dose 

 administered is two drachms to half an ounce twice 

 a day. 



Dr. Smith admits that patients of poor physique, 

 or in whom a phthisical tendency exists, are ill 

 suited for this plan of treatment. So, too, when 

 dpspnoea is an urgent symptom, especially when 

 accompanied by signs of collateral hyperaemia or 

 oedema, the use of the trocar gives more speedy 

 relief than that afforded by free purging. Still, he 

 concludes that one meets with many cases where 

 the effusion is large and of recent occurence, where 

 dyspnoia is not pronounced, and where signs of 

 physical and constitutional debility are absent. 

 These are the cases regarded by him as peculiarly 

 adapted for the treatment by concentrated solution 

 of saline cathartics, to produce absorption. 



At a recent meeting of the Medical Society of 

 Victoria, Dr. R. A. Stirling reported a case of pul- 

 monary hemorrhage, in which hypodermic injec- 

 tions of ergolin and other commonly used remedial 

 measures had failed to check the hemorrhage, which 

 was so profuse as to threaten immediate death by 

 suffocation, but in which the hypodermic injection 

 of one one-hundred-and-fiftieth of a grain of atropine 

 at once controlled the bleeding. 



During twenty-four hours the injections were re- 

 peated at intervals of every six hours. Then, 

 thinking the stoppage might have been accidental, 

 the doctor omitted the treatment for twelve hours, 

 with the result of a fresh and severe attack, which 

 was at once controlled by the renewal of the atro- 

 pine hypodermic injections. 



An ophthalmological test for feigned blindness in 

 one eye is given in the Alienist and Neurologist. 

 A German factory hand claimed damages for acci- 

 dental total blindness of left eve. E.\perts proved 

 the eye sound by the following test : The plaintiff 

 was asked to read through glasses, the left being clear 

 white, and the right being red, some words written 

 in green on black ground.' The man read the writ- 

 ing easily, which he could not have done with any 

 but the eye he claimed was defective, since the red 

 glass adjusted to the right eye would make the 

 green letters appear black, and of course invisible 

 on a black ground. 



In view of the liability to the formation of a fu- 

 runcle after the removal of a plug of cerumen from 

 the ear by simple syringing, Lowenberg (Gaz. hebd. 

 des Sci. Med.) recommends that the mass be treated 

 previously for a day or two by instillations of an 

 antiseptic solution made after the following formula : 

 R. Boric Acid, 7 parts; Glycerine: Distilled 

 Water, aa. i(» parts. M. This solution should be 

 warmed and dropped into the ear from a test tube. 

 It is to be applied twice a day, and the liquid al- 

 lowed to remain in the ear for 15 minutes. It will 

 increase the deafness for a time, on account of an 

 augmentation of the plug by imbibition, but it soft- 

 ens the mass and facilitates its expulsion. 



The Vienna correspondent of the London Lancet 

 -writes, that the well-known experiment for showing 

 total reflection of light in a jet of water or in a glass 

 Tod, has been made use of in Vienna by Dr. Roth 

 and Prof. Reuss, in devising a new method of illum- 

 inating from the outside, some cavities of the body, 

 such as the larynx and nose. The instrument used for 



Ignh'uncture of the tonsils is practiced by Dr. 

 Wilhelm Roth, of Fluntern, (London Lancet) in 

 order to reduce their size without risk of trouble- 

 some hemorrhage, which is not uncommon, es- 

 pecially in young subjects. 



This has also been recommended by Krishaber 

 and by Verneuil. The tonsils and neighboring 

 parts are first brushed over with a ten to twenty per 

 cent, solution of cocaine. The finest point of the 

 thermo-cautery, heated to redness, is then inserted 

 to a depth of about five millimeters in three or four 

 spots a few millimeters apart from one another on 

 the tonsils. The instrument is not allowed to re- 

 main more than one or two seconds in the tissue. 



The whole operation, inchiding both tonsils, can 

 be performed in a very few minutes without any 

 bleeding, and with scarcely any pain. It must be 

 repeated four or five times at intervals of twa or 

 three days, and this is usually sufficient to cause 

 the tonsils to return to their ordinary condition. 



published monthly by the 



Popular Science News Company, 



as School street, Boston. 



ONE DOLLAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE. 

 SETH C. BASSETT, 



Manager. 



SPECIAL NOTICE. 



The Publishers of the NEWS earnestly request that sub- 

 scribers will make their remittances either by draft on Bos- 

 ton or New York, or by a postal order. If it is absolutely 

 necessary to mail money, it should be sent Only in a registered 

 letter. The publishers decline to assume the risk of money 

 mailed in unregistered letters. 



Remittances will be duly credited on the printed address la- 

 bel of the paper; but if they arc received after the 15th of the 

 month, the change in the label cannot be made until a month 

 later. If a formal receipt is desired, a two-cent stamp or a pos- 

 tal card should be enclosed with the remittance. 



Publisljers' CoIuiqij. 



Wanted. — A few copies of the Science News for January, 

 S87. Full price will he paid for such at this office. 



Ykllow fever is stated to have broken out at 

 Versailles, and to have numbered several victims. 

 It has been suspected that the disease was imported 

 from South America hy means of parrots whose 

 brilliant plumage is supposed to have harbored the 

 contagion. 



Look at the lists of New Books advertised in this number. 

 Something will be found to suit all tastes, whether literary or 

 scientific. 



Attention is called to the i>reparntions of the C. H. Phil- 

 Lii'S Chemical Co., which have an enviable reputation for 

 purity and reliabilitj'. 



Nesti.e's Milk Food is one of the best of the various in- 

 fants' foods, and is largely used as a substitute for mothers' 

 milk, with very young infants.. 



Never begin your correspondence with *'I," but in whatever 

 way you commence a letter, be sure it is written with one ot 

 E8terbroi}k''s /'opuiar iitetl tena. 



BoviNiNE is a highly nxitritious and easily digested food, 

 containing all the essential elements of raw beef, in a palatable 

 form. It is highly recommended, b<Jtli l\v physicians and 

 patietits who have given it a trial. 



The Duck Coats advertised on page 4 are just the thing lor 

 physicians' operating-coats, as they are light, durable, and 

 cleanly. They are equally well adapted for druggists, chemists, 

 and students to wear in the laboratory. 



Texas colonel, to physician whom he has just 

 met: "I am so weak I can hardlj walk; what shall 

 I take.^" Physician (who knows him): "Take a 

 hack." 



Bradford Academy.— For the higher education of young 

 women. Buildings unsurpassed for comfort and health. Full 

 corps competent teachers. Year commences Sept. 11, iSSy. 

 For circulars and admission apply to Miss Annie E. Johnson, 

 Principal, Bradford, Mass. 



In some southern cities the distilled water, which is a by- 

 product of the artificial ice-machines, is sold for drinking and 

 culinary purposes at a large profit. One factory using a ma- 

 chine manufactured by David Boyle, of Chicago, nets $250.00 

 a month from this source, in addition to the regular sale of the 



